Big Lottery Fund unveils new logo as it changes name

It has become the National Lottery Community Fund from today, while the Heritage Lottery Fund has also changed its name to the National Lottery Heritage Fund

The new logo

The Big Lottery Fund, which distributes the money raised by the National Lottery for good causes, has unveiled its new logo as it changes its name today.

The BLF said in September that it was to change its name this year to the National Lottery Community Fund in a bid to better highlight the link between buying a National Lottery ticket and benefiting good causes.

Both organisations said they would incorporate the lottery’s crossed-fingers logo into their own branding from today.

The National Lottery has raised £39bn since it was launched 25 years ago, but the amount of money raised for good causes in the year to the end of March was £1.66bn, down significantly from the record high of £1.95bn in 2012/13.

The rebrands were part of an ambition to see returns to good causes grow, a statement from the two funds said today.

Jeremy Wright, the culture secretary, said: "Good causes have always been at the heart of the National Lottery and this new brand will make that link even clearer. I hope it encourages more people to play and make a positive difference."

In its statement, the National Lottery Community Fund said it would allow small charities and grass-roots projects to use the old BLF branding on materials they already had.

"As the largest community funder in the UK, we see the amazing achievements of thousands of people-led projects every year," said Dawn Austwick, chief executive of the fund.

"By deepening the connection between players and the great projects they are supporting, we can make sure more people understand the incredible difference they make across the UK."

Ros Kerslake, chief executive of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, said: "Beyond the millionaires it’s created, many people simply aren’t aware of its impact on our daily lives. By putting the National Lottery brand front and centre of our own, we hope to help change that."

The organisations said they would be releasing more information on their funding priorities tomorrow.

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